Home & Garden Blog » Hardware

Lowes Coupon Code: 20% Off Select Curtains and Hardware

ernani — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:25:57 +0000

Thinking about improving the interior appearance of your house but still unsure where to start? Try investing in some window treatments. Curtains help control the natural light and ambiance that enters a room. It can also be the only change you need for instant results. Just make sure to choose the right one as the positioning and direction of sunlight are some of the factors that can affect the overall appearance of your room. Shop now at Lowes.com and find a great deal on curtains.

Choose from a selection of different colored window panels, valences, and curtain hardware you may need. Use coupon code CURTAINS and get an extra 20% off. This offer is good through June 1, 2011.

Be sure to keep checking our Lowes coupons page for more great deals and discounts.

The Battle of the Garage: Choosing What to Keep Snow-Free

brock — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:36:17 +0000

My entire life, I never had a garage, and in a state where winter seems to last 10 out of 12 months, that meant I had years of scraping off snow and ice from my car. When I moved into my current home, I was thrilled to finally have a garage.

I had dreams of walking into the garage after 8 inches of snow and not seeing any frost on the windows and not worrying if the bitter cold had drained the battery to the point that it wouldn’t start. For the first few years, I lived in a state of bliss.

Having a garage was everything I dreamed of, but then it started to get complicated. It was a one-car garage, and there was barely enough room for my car, let alone anything else that we may have wanted to store in there.

Unlike the attic or the basement, there are certain things that just belong in the garage, such as the lawn mower, tools, garden and yard implements, etc. Why? Because no one wants to lug a lawn mower up or down stairs once a week, sometimes twice a week, during the spring.

Slowly but surely, the garage began to become cluttered. A wheel barrel for my garden needs, a stepladder for when I need to get on the roof and take care of those pesky gutters, a few crates of oil for when I do the oil change, garden hoses and nozzles.

When I put the car in the garage, I began having a hard time getting the car door open, and eventually, the car was barely fitting into it all. The final straw was the garden tiller I bought, at which point my car moved back to the driveway.

Fast forward about three years, and once again I am scrapping frost off the windows while my lawn mower and tools sit all toasty in the garage. So far, the cold hasn’t gotten to the point that the battery had become drained, but that day will come. Every year, I promise myself that I will reclaim my garage for its true purpose, but when I go into it I have no idea where to put anything.

My friends have suggested building a tool shed in the garage, and I am sure that eventually I will get around to it, but for now, I’ll keep my scraper handy. One day the garage will be mine again, but that’s going to have to wait until spring.

Mr. Fix It: Finding the Right Tool for the Job

brock — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:42:23 +0000

Being a mostly self-taught do-it-yourselfer, I discovered early that if you want things done right, then you need to have the right tool for the job.

It’s easy to forget that when you are desperately trying to get a job done and you don’t have the one size wrench or screwdriver you need, it can be a real pain.

So what do you do? If you were anything like me, then you improvised, usually to disastrous results. Let me tell you about a few instances when I didn’t have the right tool for the job and the consequences of improvising.

1. Children’s Toy: It seems like nowadays, if you want to construct a children’s toy such as a bicycle, then you need to have an engineering degree, which is funny since I studied physics and still can’t get this stuff together. Many times, these kits come with some cheaply built wrenches or other tools to help you build, but no such luck this time.

I needed a wrench or, at the very least, a crescent wrench, and I had them, but they were downstairs in the garage and I wasn’t feeling the walk. I surveyed the room like MacGyver, trying to ascertain what piece of mundane equipment I could use for a wrench. My wife has been into beading, and she had purchased a dainty pair of pliers to help grab the beads. I saw my opportunity and took it. The consequence was a rounded nut that wouldn’t turn even when I went downstairs and got the right wrench.

It then required a trip to the hardware store to buy a new nut (I didn’t have that size) and to buy a tool that could turn the stripped nut. Yeah, me.

2. A hammer by any other name. A hammer by definition is basically a tool to hit something. It has a few handy dandy points like the nail puller, but it’s main purpose is to hit something. We had some molding that had come loose, thanks to the added motivation of our children, and come off. There were some nails sticking out of the bare wood. I certainly did not want my kids getting hurt on it, so I decided to nail them in just to be safe.

Of course, it was about 8 p.m., and I was tired. The last thing I wanted to do was go all the way to the garage just to grab a hammer. I mean, anything can really be a hammer right? Wrong. Once again, I surveyed the room and found a heavy ceramic (what my mother would call a “pretty”), and I would call it a substitute hammer. It’s heavy, and I was sure it could take down one of those little nails.

I grabbed it and lightly tapped the nail and nothing really happened. I guess I needed a little more force. Needless to say, the “pretty” broke into about four pieces and wasn’t so pretty anymore. Add to the fact that my wife did not know I was using her “pretty” as a hammer meant I had a lot of explaining to do. The biggest consequence was 24 hours of being in the doghouse.

My advice to all you do-it-yourselfers out there is not to cut corners and to grab the right tool for the job when it needs it. Believe me, it will save you time in the end.

Four Ways to Make Your Home Earthquake Ready

brendan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:26:01 +0000

Is it me, or have there been a lot of earthquakes lately? Haiti, Chile, Southern California, and now Indonesia. This is a good time to make sure our houses are ready for earthquakes. Here are a few ways to do that. (This list isn’t comprehensive, and I can’t guarantee that these things will keep you safe, but they tend to help. Check out the resources at the bottom of this post for more info.)

Here are my four tips:

1) Secure wall & ceiling hangings: When things start shaking, your pictures, mirrors, artwork, and HDTV can fall on the ground (or on you!). Do yourself a favor and invest in some fixtures that can help prevent them from falling. In areas where you sleep or sit, like above your bed or behind your couch or desk, try not to hang anything at all. Also, brace your overhead lighting fixtures; they often fall in earthquakes.

2) Secure furniture into the wall when you can: Furniture has a way of moving about during shaking. Also no good. Taller pieces of furniture can topple over. Securing them into the wall helps reduce this risk.

3) Install strong child locks, fasteners, latches, and bolts on cabinets: Cabinets have a way of sliding open during earthquakes. Falling knives and plates are the opposite of what you want. A lot of child safety locks can keep the cabinets from opening. Also, put heavier things in lower cabinets. That big china plate that you like so much? The lower you store it, the less likely it is to fall and hurt you, but also the less likely it is to break.

4) Make sure you have enough supplies for the earthquake:

In the event of an earthquake, you’re going to want to have enough food and water for a few (at least 3) days.
Food should be non-perishable, and have a gallon of water per person, per day. (It’s a good idea to keep some iodine tablets around, just in case.) Have a well-stocked first aid kit, extra blankets, sleeping bags, clothes, and shoes, a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, a fire extinguisher, and an adjustable wrench to turn off your gas and water.

Being prepared takes effort, but in the end, it’s worth it for the peace of mind. Of course, none of these steps can guarantee you’ll make it through a catastrophe unscathed, but it’s a start. Have any other tips? Let us know! Be safe, and happy fastening!

These tips were adapted from the Disaster Center, the Red Cross, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. These are great resources for more information on earthquakes.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/seier

Style and Comfort: Do I Need My Own Snow Blower?

colleen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:00:30 +0000

If you’re asking yourself whether you need a snow blower, you’re probably in an ambiguous area that doesn’t get snow all the time, but when it does happen, you’re stuck outside shoveling for hours. People anywhere north of Massachusetts don’t even ask this question, because they already have a snow blower: it’s just too time consuming and tiring to be digging your car out of several feet of snow a week. A snow blower gets the job done quickly and with ease.

I can’t help but praise a weather pattern that necessitates exercise: think of snow as the best calorie busting weather you could ask for since shoveling your sidewalk or clearing your car while wearing an extra 20 pounds in clothing really makes you feel the burn.

My recommendation: If you have back problems, heart problems, a lot of little kids, or a very hectic and stressful job situation, you want to make clearing your weather blockades as simple as possible: get the snow blower. If you live in a very, very snowy region and have been loyal to your shovel for years, think about a snow blower if you find shoveling too time consuming. If you live in a fair weather area with occasional heavy snow storms, the occasional workout of shoveling will do you more good than harm.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/acidcookie/156795572

Surviving the Wintertime: Thermostats

colleen — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:15 +0000

Sometimes when it’s really cold outside, the last thing we want is to know how cold it actually is! Remember that thermometers can be helpful for many things: they can help regulate the temperature in your home, keep heating bills down, measure temperatures in ovens or roasts or grills to make sure you’re ready to cook, and generally help you prepare for the day. Hey, it can even be a family activity, a little thermometer outside can be something your kids have to check in the morning before they get ready for school. So before you balk at the idea of thermometers being an optional item, think about how they might help your family, or help you engage with your surroundings and prepare for the day.
There are plenty of types of thermometers out there to personalize for your needs: the major difference being between digital and “analog” thermometers. I think it’s nice to have analog thermometers because you get a little Celsius marker too, and that can help you learn how to read temperatures when you visit countries abroad. But digital thermometers are safer because you don’t risk breaking a thin glass object with liquid mercury inside, which could be very harmful. No matter what you select, look to Smarter for the best deals.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/cosmic_bandita/2395367992

Fall Cleaning: Affordable Pressure Washers

colleen — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:34:46 +0000

If you live in New England, you don’t need a pressure washer or anything to get in those tough-to-reach places on your home’s roof and shingling–the blistering cold and the constant downpour of rain will keep everything from sticking to the roof and hanging around outside. But if you’re from anywhere else, the fall means a build up of leaves and dead foliage, sometimes even (horrifically) dead animals, so it’s best to start cleaning it off before it gets crusted under the snow, and stays there for good.

What a dramatic beginning! Let me say as well that cleaning up the yard and the house is a perfect way to spend an autumn weekend, enjoying some of the last perfect weather where all you need is a festive sweater and tall leather boots to stay warm. So cute, so fashionable. So, where’s the pressure washer?

Smarter.com helps you find exactly what you need. Here’s some of the top pressure washers with the greatest savings:

Karcher 1850 PSI (Electric-Cold Water) Pressure Washer w/ Induction Motor: $279.99 (marked down from $350!)

Mi-T-M – JP Series 2700 PSI Cold Water Gasoline Pressure Washer : Free shipping today and over a 50% cut on the price! $1,197.50

Shop for discount pressure washers at Smarter.com.

Good Deals on Floor Cleaners

colleen — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:13:02 +0000

All vacuum cleaners and floor care products are on sale today at Sears.com: Stop in to pick up your newest vacuum cleaner, dust buster, or floor scrubber entities to make your house spotless. With a variety of vacuums organized by upright, canisters, floor cleaners and sticks & handhelds, you are sure to find exactly your favorite brands and styles at the best possible prices.

Top sellers on the market:

Save $75 on the Kenmore Progressive Upright Vacuum with Inteli-Clean System, Slate Blue from Sears.com: $219.99 sale price, this upright vacuum saves your back and breaks up all your dust! With special dust filter and an infrared dirt sensor, you are getting upscale, state-of-the-art quality without breaking the bank.

Through October 31st, use a rebate to cut the price of the Electrolux ErgoRapido 2-in-1 Vacuum at Sears.com down from $109.99 to $89.99. This two-in-one combination stick and vacuum is lightweight to help you reach those tough banisters, windowsills, and tops of door frames without straining your back.

Shop for more deals on vacuum cleaners at Smarter.com.

Stairway to Heaven

colleen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:32:32 +0000

Ladders are an utmost necessity for the do-it-yourself housewife or househusband. Standing on chairs only works until you’ve broken the prized family heirloom or smashed a lightbulb against your palm as you’ve tried to brace yourself from a fall on an uneven stool. Ouch! The best tool besides a hammer is a ladder, because then you can reach everything you want to hit.

Check out some of the top picks:

1. Deep-step aluminum ladder : $39.00-$249.00, depending on height desired

2. Step ladder with slip-resistant grip from GlobalIndustrial.com: $241.95

3. Telesteps Extension Ladder from Toolup.com: $209.00

Shop for more ladders at Smarter.com.

Dream Maker Spas – This Is What Heaven Must Be Like

Green Savings: Water Conservation

colleen — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:19:30 +0000

Clean water is a precious commodity. The way our culture is gobbling up this resource while damaging the systems necessary to create new clean water is terrifying. Let’s think about a simple, efficient way to save water from your very home: replace your shower heads with low-flow shower heads. It only takes a few minutes and does not need professional installation; units cost between $10-20, and considering how much money it will save you in the future, it is definitely worth the investment.

Some statistics: With a normal shower head, you use 2x’s as much water as is necessary for a refreshing, thorough shower. Every day, three billion gallons of water flow through shower heads in the United States—half of it being unnecessary. If that does not inspire you, think about it economically: Every new shower head pays for itself almost 4-fold in it’s first year of use, saving you an average of $50-75 on water bills and $20-50 on energy bills. Investing in low-flow shower heads is smart, easy, and saves you money fast.

So what does “low-flow” mean? Low-flow means that the shower head uses approximately 2.5 gallons a minute (or less) of water. Look for manufacturers that boast “aerating” shower heads (i.e. the shower head mixes air with the water) for a high-pressure boost, so you don’t feel like you’re showering under a trickle, but you’re still saving water.

One thing to watch out for, is that low-flow showers are more easily affected by toilets flushing, washing machines running, dishwashers, etc. Pressure will drop quickly if someone starts any one of those things while you are in the shower, and may result in scalding water. There are products and nozzles in the market to prevent against scalding and stabilize low-flow shower heads in those situations.

Top Low-Flow Showerheads on the Market:

Low Flow Shower Head Chrome: 2 for $15.75(green, stylish, and so affordable!)

Massaging Adjustable Low Flow Showerhead: $29.95 (a bit pricier, but certainly worth the shower experience!)

Installing a shower head in relatively simple. To remove your old shower head, just make sure you have the necessary tools: most importantly, a wrench. Take a look at these Expert Village videos on how to remove an old shower head and install a new shower head. While you are on Expert Village.com, check out some of the other self-help videos, such as installing a shower bar or even a handheld shower head.

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more low flow shower heads.